Custom telescope mount using harmonic drives and ESP32
5 days ago
- #Electronics
- #Astrophotography
- #DIY
- The author built a custom telescope mount using harmonic drives, ESP32, and custom PCBs for astrophotography.
- Initial interest in astrophotography led to purchasing a Move Shoot Move tracker, but limitations prompted the DIY project.
- Research involved harmonic drives, stepper/BLDC motors, FOC, and existing DIY builds like HEMY and DHEM.
- Design included RA and DEC axes with harmonic drives, ESP32-S3 microcontroller, and USB-C power delivery.
- Custom PCB design in KiCad with semi-circular form factor, USB PD negotiation, and CANBUS/MODBUS support.
- First PCB version had issues due to component substitution, leading to a revised and functional Version 2.
- OnStepX firmware was integrated for telescope mount control, with WiFi stability improvements.
- CNC machining by JLCPCB produced high-quality parts, with minor adjustments needed post-assembly.
- Real-world performance achieved 1-2 arcsecond precision, suitable for 30-second exposures at 600mm focal length.
- Total project cost was ~€1,700, with single-unit cost around €800, offering competitive economics vs. commercial mounts.
- The project provided valuable learning in PCB design, FreeCAD, and mount operation, making the effort worthwhile.